How AI Is Solving Philanthropy’s $300 Billion Problem

$300B dollars are sitting idle in Donor Advised Funds—just waiting to be put to good use.

On this episode of The Prompt, Jim Carter dives deep into the world of philanthropy and the game-changing role artificial intelligence is beginning to play in getting that money moving.

Jim talks about a recent conversation he had with his good friend Mike Spear, the founder of Altruous, that had him rethinking everything he thought he knew about charitable giving and nonprofit evaluation.

Mike’s no stranger to the impact space, having helped Classy.org raise billions for causes worldwide, but what really sets this chat apart is how he tackled the age-old problem of “evaluation paralysis.” Turns out, most of that philanthropic money isn’t being spent because evaluating nonprofit programs is slow, expensive, and downright overwhelming. Twenty to forty hours per program, endless paperwork, and missed opportunities.

Altruous flips that script using advanced AI—generating in-depth, 25-page program evaluations in mere seconds, not weeks. The way it works is pretty slick: the platform pulls in third-party data, combines it with info from organizations, and uses AI to spit out comprehensive, real-time reports. But the magic isn’t just in automation. Mike and his team are obsessed with keeping humans in the loop. AI does the heavy lifting, while real people add context, ask the hard questions, and make sure cultural sensitivity and nuance aren’t lost in the data.

Plus, Jim shares his go-to framework for AI adoption: What takes too long? What costs too much? What good work could you do more of? Apply that lens, and the case for AI in philanthropy is obvious.

AI-powered tools like Altruous can supercharge efficiency (think: 30% boost), reduce admin overload, and let more money flow to where it’s needed most. But there are real concerns too—data use, cost, and over-automation. The episode doesn’t shy away from these, but instead, it’s all about thoughtful, human-centered integration.

If you’re ready to keep exploring what’s next with AI — not just watching it happen but actually building with it — come hang out in CTRL + ALT + BUILD. It’s where entrepreneurs, creatives, and curious minds are experimenting with real workflows, sharing what’s working, and learning together in real time. You’ll get early access to my experiments, prompts, and behind-the-scenes breakdowns before they hit the feed. Join fellow builders here: https://jimcarter.me/ctrl-alt-build-ai-community/